Innholdsfortegnelse for Dec 2025 / Jan 2026 i Home

Earlier this year, I was sitting around a table with friends in one of Cape Town’s hottest new restaurants. It was über-cool (read “painfully pretentious”). The server was a sight to behold and, it turns out, not a server at all. She spoke with an American TV accent and clearly believed in colour-blocking – her trousers were electric blue and her shirt… well, she and her friends probably call it “tangerine”. I call it orange. The purpose of appearing at our table was to tell us that she doesn’t want to – and won’t – take our order (I’m sure you can ‘read’ the attitude) and that someone else (a fan of colour-drenching) would be serving us in our dusty pink booth. I guess if all three of us had…

New! STOCKISTS African Jacquard africanjacquard.com Aureum Design aureumdesign.com Bbelamy & Bbelamy facebook.com/bbellamyandbbellamy Big Little Store biglittlestore.co Block & Chisel blockandchisel.co.za Blutide blutide.co.za Cara Saven Decor carasavendecor.com Conran Shop conranshop.co.uk Curtain Drops curtaindrops.co.za Design Afrika designafrika.co.za Designers Guild designersguild.com Hertex Haus hertexhaus.co.za Holly Wood Design Studio hollywooddesignstudio.com Homestead Décor homestead-décor.co.za Jane Churchill janechurchill.com Maison Walls maisonwalls.com Mr Price Home mrphome.com Mungo mungo.co.za Poetry poetrystores.co.za Sofacompany sofacompany.co.za Superbalist superbalist.com The Fabric House thefabrichousect.com The Little Haus thelittlehaus.co.za Two Tone Stone twotonestone.com Villa 218 villa218.co.za Woolworths woolworths.co.za Yuppiechef yuppiechef.com…

CONTACTS Andrea Wright drawspace.co.za Chapuzón westerncapeescapes.com/chapuzon Good Hope Gardens Nursery goodhopegardensnursery.co.za…

THE HOMEOWNERS Irna van Zyl and Bridget McCarney, their dog Billie and cat Charlie WHERE Pearly Beach, Overberg SIZE 320m² “When you walk into the house, it’s as if a weight lifts off your shoulders and time just stands still,” says Irna van Zyl of the beach house where she and her life partner Bridget McCarney come to recharge their batteries during the holidays. But this is also a story about a second chance. At first, Irna, a retired media entrepreneur and author of five (soon to be six!) crime novels, and Bridget, an integral coach, didn’t realise how deeply Pearly Beach had crept into their hearts. Two years after building a house in Hermanus (less than 70km from Pearly Beach) in 2018, the two seasoned travellers sold their beach house here…

Email queries to pets@homemag.co.za. Happy holidays! WIN! Each owner whose pet is featured here wins a gift voucher worth R500 from Petshop Science (petshopscience.co.za). Petshop Science offers a wide range of special pet outfits and accessories, conveniently available in-store or delivered to your door by Sixty60. When preparing for the family’s holiday photoshoot or shopping for festive gifts, don’t forget to spoil your pet too. Dress your dog to impress with the stylish Dog’s Life Cane Bow Tie (R49.99), available in different sizes, prints and colours – it’s perfect for any occasion! For a more playful look, the Dog’s Life Christmas Tee (R99.99) combines comfort with adorable designs, allowing your pup to move with ease. While the holidays can get busy, the MyFamily Small Charm Pet ID Tag (R269.99) makes…

Before By John Designs, Kaylee Higgins spent her days (and plenty of late nights) working as an art director in the Cape Town film industry. But when the pandemic hit, everything changed. The world went quiet and so did her creative outlet. “A visit to my dad’s factory, a place usually buzzing with energy, made me realise the impact of the slowdown,” says Kaylee. “My dad runs an events-based manufacturing business and, like so many others, his industry came to a standstill. But I saw an opportunity: what if we could give these machines and skilled artisans a new purpose? What if we could create something that wasn’t just beautiful, but brought real joy into people’s homes? And just like that, By John Designs was born.” Today, the brand is…

Send gardening info and queries to gardens@homemag.co.za. Summer in South Africa turns gardens into vibrant extensions of our homes. But while the season encourages us to relax and enjoy, it’s also the time to keep our outdoor spaces healthy, thriving and ready for festive entertaining. Follow these tips on how to make the most of your garden this season: COLOUR, TEXTURE AND TOUGH PERFORMERS Summer is the season for bold planting. If your beds are looking tired, fill them with heat-tolerant stars such as Bidens, alyssum, gaura, hibiscus or cone flower (Echinacea). For a quick splash of colour, plant zinnia, petunia, marigold and gazania seedlings. And don’t forget the shady spots – perfect for ribbon bush (Hypoestes aristata), impatiens, lobelias or begonias. ADD INTEREST TO BEDS The right mix of…

WHO LIVES HERE? Hardie and Jessie Strydom, and Mila the Yorkie WHERE Stellenbosch SIZE 1 000m2 AGE OF CURRENT GARDEN 11 years TYPE OF SOIL Excellent garden soil The first change Hardie and Jessie Strydom made when they moved into their Stellenbosch home in 2014 was to move the garden gate to the middle of the palisade fence opposite the front door so that visitors could walk straight in. Next on their list was clearing the overgrown front garden. “The garden was informal and abundant, with a mass of hydrangeas in the back garden. There were also huge Chinese maple (Acer buergerianum) trees and an Australian flame tree (Brachychiton acerifolius), which we decided to keep,” says Jessie. “But we prefer a more formal look. I knew exactly what aesthetic I wanted to create but…

Makes one 28cm star-shaped cake with four layers • Preparation: 1 hour, plus cooling time Baking time: 1 hour • Oven temperature: 120°C MERINGUE LAYERS 100g almond flour 20ml cornflour 250ml (1 cup) castor sugar 4 egg whites 5ml vanilla essence CUSTARD FILLING 1.25L milk 250ml castor sugar a pinch of salt 4 egg yolks 80ml (⅓ cup) cake flour 125ml (½ cup) cornflour 10ml vanilla essence GARNISH 125ml grated dark chocolate 200g chocolate balls a few spiced star cookies, store-bought or homemade (see recipe on page 133) 1 Make the meringue Preheat the oven. Mix the almond flour with the cornflour and 30ml of the sugar; set aside. Using an electric mixer, whisk the egg whites until soft peaks form. Whisk in the rest of the sugar, a spoonful…

Write to editor@homemag.co.za and remember to use the word ‘Letters’ in the subject line (please include your full name and where you live in your letter). Follow us on facebook.com/homemag or Instagram @TuisHomeMag. WINNING LETTER Our long-distance build René MacQuillin of Manila, Philippines writes From 2016, my husband and I were carefree expats in Myanmar – until Covid hit and, just to keep life interesting, a coup followed in 2021. We fled back to South Africa and spent the next 14 months as digital nomads, eventually landing “just for a bit” in a friend’s holiday home in Underberg. Six weeks, countless mountain views, river swims, beautiful sunsets, and a few fly-fishing trips later, we were hooked – and soon became proud owners of a piece of land in this beautiful…

Send décor and lifestyle news to johane.neilson@tuis.co.za. Strike gold Handcrafted Olive Leaf metal wreath (50cm L x 48cm W) R890, shop.babylonstoren.com Full circle Artist Danélle Janse van Rensburg, founder of rOund&rOund Frames, believes that framing has no limits, and her bespoke birchwood frames for artists working in circular art forms now include shapes such as capsule and pebble. Her new online store and gallery also offers framed artworks and interior products such as mirrors, corkboards and more. Check out roundandround.co.za. OH BABY! The Baby Bella basin from The Concrete Corporation (available in a range of colours; R4 542.50, concretecorp.co.za) brings minimalist design to small spaces, without compromising on style. Perfect for powder rooms and small bathrooms, it can be used as a countertop basin or with a freestanding steel frame.…

Dr Tarryn Dent of Zoetis South Africa replies Vet visits can be very traumatic for both pets and owners, but there are ways to take the stress out of the trip. Make friends with the carrier Many vets have a policy that cats must be in a carrier. But if the carrier only comes out when a vet visit is imminent, chances are your cat will want nothing to do with it. Use the carrier as a safe space for your cat. Keep it out, put a blanket in there and some toys so it becomes a place where your cat enjoys hanging out (after all, it is essentially a box, and we know how cats feel about boxes!). When you go to the vet, the carrier will feel more…

Q: Where can I buy the wooden floating drawers shown on page 62 of your August 2025 issue? – Nini Strydom A: They were custom made; try Odezen (odezen.co.za) for similar off-the-shelf designs. Q: I love the greenish tiles on page 73 of the June|July 2024 issue; where are they from? – Caroline Gaugris A: The homeowner bought the tiles from Cash Tiles (cashtiles.co.za) in 2023. Q: Where can I find large (700mm D), round, sandstone stepping stones as seen on page 105 of Home Yard 2024? – Helie van Vreden A: This large size is hard to come by; try Culterra (culterra.co.za) in Muldersdrift, Gqeberha and Tzaneen – they have 600mm and 800mm options. Q: What price should I ask for this bedspread (230 x 240cm) that my mother and I crocheted some years ago?…

STOCKISTS Babylonstoren shop.babylonstoren.com Italtile italtile.co.za Mr Price Home mrphome.com Patio Warehouse patiowarehouse.co.za Poetry poetrystores.co.za Woolworths woolworths.co.za Yuppiechef yuppiechef.com…

Red ahead When it came to adding a splash of red to her newly renovated bedroom in Riebeek-Kasteel, interior designer Sharon O’Callaghan-Marais stuck to a ‘less is more’ rule. “I love a good stripe and when I found this playful fabric in a deep red shade, I couldn’t wait to make a bed base cover with it,” says Sharon. “The width of the stripe was perfect – too many stripes would have been too busy for my taste. And the fact that the fabric is a tactile velvet was a bonus! “Red and green are complementary colours and always work well together. I chose an olive green for the bedding to add a modern touch and to complement the burgundy on the bed base and the rusty tone in the…

THE HOMEOWNERS Mike and Lindsay Horsthemke with their children, Beau (8) and Charlie (1) WHERE Scarborough, Cape Peninsula SIZE 205m² Scarborough on the Cape Peninsula is the Horsthemkes’ all-time favourite beach, even though Mallorca in Spain is their permanent home and considered one of the most beautiful islands in the world. “Scarborough is a very special place, and we love coming here once a year to appreciate its magic,” says Lindsay. Born and bred Capetonians Lindsay and Mike have been working and travelling abroad for more than two decades, but always with a dream to own a home in South Africa. In 2014, when Mike got a call from his architect sister Andrea Wright to tell him that a small cottage in Scarborough was up for sale, he hopped on a plane…

WHO LIVES HERE? Gisela Piercey WHERE Simon’s Town SIZE 120m² This dusty-pink Victorian house dating from 1890 and just a stone’s throw from Simon’s Town’s world-famous Boulders Beach captivated Gisela Piercey the moment she stepped inside. Gisela believes that if you’re in the market for buying a home, you should look for a property that ‘speaks to your soul’. If it doesn’t stir up any emotions, rather give it a miss. This was the first house she looked at towards the end of 2023 and she felt that there was something special about this heritage home. The Swiss boutique tour guide has lived in South Africa for many years and was looking for a family-friendly home that she could also rent out on a short-term basis, preferably close to popular tourist attractions.…

#1 Polaroid nostalgia From selfies to sunsets… There’s no shortage of photos that document our lives because it’s so easy these days. But what about those special holiday snaps that put a smile on your face, time and time again? Give your best memories a moment in the spotlight! Above food editor Johané Neilson’s desk in her office, three towel rails with curtain rings and clips offer the perfect solution for a gallery wall that she can change up to her heart’s content. It’s easy to swap the pics out as the mood strikes – or to mix in postcards, sketches and little love notes along the way. For a touch of nostalgia, the photos were printed in Polaroid style. Did you know? Polaroid cameras were all the rage in…

Email your queries to experts@homemag.co.za. Keen to revitalise your guest bathroom or looking for ways to add colour to your holiday table settings and décor? Just ask – we’ll find the answers. Stylist’s tips Refresh your guest bathroom Sprucing up your guest bathroom before the holiday season doesn’t have to be costly or complicated. With a few soft touches and thoughtful details that won’t break the bank, it’s easy to make this space feel inviting, stylish and fresh, says our creative editor Marian van Wyk. Start with a deep clean. A spotless bathroom feels more welcoming and luxurious. Before you add anything new, wipe down all surfaces, scrub the tiles and grout, and ensure that mirrors, taps and glass sparkle. Pay attention to handles, light switches and the toilet base, which…

Estelle Landsberg of Vanderbijlpark writes Our home was built in 1967 and features a stone wall in the living room. The cement grout, treated with a gloss sealant, is wide and uneven. It all looks very dated with our anthracite stove in front of it. I want to whitewash the stones or paint both the stones and the grout a dark colour as the room gets plenty of natural light. Any advice? Karin Cronjé, owner of Hands On Creative Building & Management, replies The preparation of the stone and grout cement will be key to successfully updating the wall. The current gloss sealant is non-porous, and this smooth finish will have to be removed before you can paint. The best and simplest solution would be to cover the entire wall…

Rack of lamb with walnut herb crust Make sure your serving platter is hot when you dish up the lamb. Serves 6 Preparation: 30 minutes Cooking time: 40 minutes Oven temperature: 200°C CRUST 60ml chopped flat-leaf parsley 5ml chopped fresh mint 2 anchovies, finely chopped 8 walnuts, finely chopped zest of one lemon 60ml panko breadcrumbs MEAT 2 lamb racks, about 600g each after the bones have been scraped clean 15ml Dijon mustard Set aside. Rub the fat well with salt. Place the lamb, fat side down, in a cold heavy-bottomed pan and heat slowly until hot. Fry the fat until it has rendered and evenly browned. Turn the lamb onto the bone side and fry for a few more minutes to brown. Remove the meat from the pan and…

These tasty treats also make a lovely homemade gift for friends and family. Peanut butter biscuits Makes about 24 biscuits Preparation: 15 minutes, plus cooling time Baking time: 12–15 minutes per batch • Oven temperature: 180°C 125ml (½ cup) butter, softened 125ml (½ cup) smooth peanut butter (unsweetened) 200ml (¾ cup) light brown sugar 1 extra-large egg  5ml vanilla essence 125ml (½ cup) cake flour 60ml (¼ cup) chopped salted peanuts Mini Astros, to decorate (optional) Add the egg and vanilla; beat until mixed. Sift in the flour and stir into the peanut butter mixture to form a smooth dough. If time allows, refrigerate for 30 minutes. This will firm up the dough and ensure that the biscuits hold their shape better. Cool and store in an airtight container. Festive…

Each one of us has to endure it, some time or another. And no matter your rank, race or class, your turn is your turn in those dreaded Home Affairs lines (not to mention the SASSA ones, a much deeper level of hell). But here I am again – four years since my last stint of singing the “civil service blues” (Home, September 2021). At the crack of dawn, having girded my loins and fortified the old spiritual ramparts, I humbly join the ranks of my fellow martyrs, already waiting in line. Our chances at success are precarious at best: you might wait five hours only for the queue to get cut off just before you. Or you finally make it, but the system goes offline. Everyone gets sent home.…